Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Debugging and Preserving Dried Cholla Cactus January 04, 2014 Hi. Recently found an intact skeleton of a cholla cactus. I want to Bring it in our house. Are there any dangers associated with this, like bugs inside the "branches?" how would you suggest I prese... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Both large and small Century plants putting up stems from Cayucos CA November 18, 2013 I have a Century Plant that is sending up a stem. I am excited to see it bloom. I noticed that one of the small pups, about 4 inches tall, is also sending up a stem. I have not found a mention of pups... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Correction of tree name from Bay Point CA October 16, 2013 The tree should of been Mulberry don't know how it was changed!! Tuesday - October 15, 2013 From: Bay Point, CA Region: California Topic: Non-Natives, Cacti and Succulents, Trees Title: Non-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native jade plants and spider plants beneath Mayberry tree in Bay Point CA October 15, 2013 I have a fruitless Mayberry in my back yard that's about 50/50' can I plant jade and spider plants under it? The tree is very healthy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growth of yucca from seed pods from Saginaw MI October 05, 2013 How do you grow a yucca plant from the pods? Do I need to dry out the pods first? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Overwintering Yucca Seedlings in Illinois October 02, 2013 I have many yucca seedlings I started this year. My question is what do I need to do with them to overwinter here in Northern Illinois and when do I plant them in the ground for best chances of survi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do flowers on century plants grow century plants from Huachuca City AZ September 06, 2013 The flowers on century plants: can they "grow" century plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bringing upright a leaning cholla cactus August 29, 2013 I have a 3 ft. tall Cylindropuntia bigelovii that fell over after recent rains. I righted it and supported it with garden stakes for about a month. I was afraid to pull too hard on the low... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shriveling agave from Miami Florida August 23, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Most upset - My beautiful agave (wish I could have submitted an image) has stared to misbehave. The once first liquid filled leaves, are starting to look more like the skin ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Taking down a Century Plant blooming stalk from Fair Oaks Branch TX August 09, 2013 Our century cactus looks like it's in the final stages of blooming and I read on your site that the original plant dies. Can we go ahead and cut down the tall blooms? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Killing a century plant from Burton TX August 08, 2013 How do you kill the century plant, they are taking over? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacements for yuccas from Georgetown TX August 07, 2013 I have lost some softleaf and variegated yucca to a beetle grub destroying the root system - like the Agave snout beetle does. I have put an insecticidal drench on my remaining plants, but suspect wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bloom stalk not visibly connected to Century Plant from Johnson City, TX July 31, 2013 Can anyone tell my why my Century Plant is growing a bloom stalk a couple of feet away from my plant instead of up through the middle? Ive never seen one do that and it strikes me as being rather odd! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Plants for hanging flower boxes from Austin July 27, 2013 I have two long flower boxes 17" x 15" x 25 feet long one on the north side of the apt and one on the south made of metal suspended about four feet from the ground. One will get the morning sun and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling agave pups from Galveston, TX July 26, 2013 I live in Galveston, Tx.I have several large 5ft tall century plants in my yard and the pups are coming up everywhere..how do I control these??? HELP!! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Soaptree yucca falling over in Mesa AZ July 24, 2013 My soaptree yucca is about 5 ft tall and has fallen over. Does this plant require staking for I thought not, or is something else going on with it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-blooming yuccas in Brooklyn CT July 14, 2013 I have outdoor yucca plants that don't flower - - in full sun. Why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Century plant leaves yellowing from Magnolia TX July 04, 2013 The leaves on my large Agave/Century plant are turning yellow. The bottom leaves, touching the ground are dying. Plant is 5.5" tall, 6" across & approx 10 yrs old. Recently we put red mulch around t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to Control White Fungus on Prickly Pear Cactus? July 04, 2013 Is there any kind of spray for our prickly pear that will help with the white fungus that has appeared on it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for area around salt water pool June 27, 2013 What are some plants that will grow around my salt water pool where there is some salt water runoff occasionally. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ingestion of agave sap from Albuquerque NM June 11, 2013 My boyfriend was out in the Arizona desert without water for two days and sought moisture through what he thought was a yucca plant but instead we believe was agave. He sucked the moisture off the ins... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black rot at center of Agave from Clovis CA May 12, 2013 We have some beautiful variegated "Green & Cream" Agave plants in our cactus garden. One in particular has done quite well for several years and is the largest, about 18" tall & across, it has neve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container plants for Yakima WA May 11, 2013 My condo complex has purchased large, pottery pots for around our pool. I need to choose low maintenance plants. hopefully something that takes limited water, etc. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing grassy weeds from cactus garden in Corpus Christi TX May 07, 2013 How do you get grassy weeds out of a cactus garden? I don't want to use roundup around the cacti? Can you recommend a herbicide that won't harm the cactus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cat eating yucca stalks in England May 07, 2013 Is it safe for my cat to eat yucca as she is being sick and its hard to stop her View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
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